Monomeric polymerizable ureido and thioureido vinyl ethers and methods for producingthem



' or soluble types of linear polymers, and which also inpreferably in the presence of an acid catalyst. Another MONOMERIG POLYMERHZABLE UREIDO AND THIOIDO VINYL ETHERS AND METHQDS FOR PRQDUCEJG THEM Sidney Melamed, Philadelphia, Pa, assignor to Robin 8;- Haas Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Delaware 9 Claims. (Cl. 260-775) The present invention relates to new ureido and thioureido vinyl ethers which contain a position of monoethylenic unsaturation adapting them to be polymerized by addition polymerization procedures and which also contain alkylated methylol groups adapting them and their polymers to be converted into insoluble, infusible materials, such as by the application of heat, preterably in the presence of an acid catalyst. The present invention also relates to a distinctive method for producing the new monomeric compounds. It also con- ,1 cerns the new polymers including homopolymers and copolymers that may be obtained by'the addition polymerization of the new monomers. This application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 501,708, filed April 15, 1955. It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved group of vinyl ethers of monomeric character which include within their structure monoethylenic unsaturation adapting them to be polymerized by simple addition polymerization to fusible clude within their structure alkylated methylol groups adapting the monomers as well as the addition polymers obtained therefrom to be rendered insoluble and/or infusible by simple condensation reactions on heating,

object of the invention is to provide a novel method for producing the polymerizable vinyl ethers of the type described. The advantages of the monomeric and poly meric products as well as of the new method will appear in the following description thereof.

The new compounds of monomeric character provided by the present invention are those having the structure of Formula I following:

in which A is an alkylene group having 2 to 4 carbon atoms of which a chain of at least two extend between the adjoined atoms of O and N, R is H, cyc-lohexyl, or D an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, X is O or S, and R is a lower alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms.

It is to be noted that these compounds contain a point of unsaturation and are vinyl ethers joined through an alkylene group to a ureido or thioureido group which also contains an alkylated methylol group designated CH OR. All of the compounds within the scope of Formula I, therefore, include the monoethylenic unsaturation and tae alkylated methylol group rendering the compounds capable of addition polymerization through the former group and/or condensation polymerization through the latter group.

In accordance with the present invention, the compounds of Formula I are produced by the reaction of a compound of Formula II following with a compound of Formula III following:

. an alkoxymethyl isothiocyanate.

2,37,499 Patenteddune 3, 1958 a 2 n H2C=CHOANHR nr ROQH2NCX in which the symbols have the same definition as above. The latter compound is an alkoxymethyl isocya'nate or V The reaction between compounds II and III may be eifected in bulk or in solution in an inert organic solvent, such as ether, benzene, acetonitrile, dioxane, or t-butanol. The temperature reaction may be from about 0 and C. and is preferably eifected with cooling at temperatures between 0 and 20 C. Because of the exothermic nature of the reaction, it is generally desirable to gradually add one of the reactants to the other to facilitate control of the temperature. For example, the unsaturated amine of Formula II may be added to the compound of Formula III.

All of the starting reactants of Formula II are known.

The isocyanates and isothiocyanates of Formula Hi may be produced directly from aliphatic compounds containing a chloromethyl ether group, such as chloromethoxy ethane, chloromethoxy propane, chloromethoxy butane, and so on by reacting such chloromethoxy compounds with silver cyanates or alkali metal thiocyanates, such as ammonium, potassium or sodium thiocyanate, at low temperatures of about room temperature up to about C. Reaction may be performed in an anhydrous medium for a period of several hours, such as from 3 to 48 hours. At the conclusion, the solvent contains the isocyanate or isothiocyanate in solution. The salt may simply be filtered off and the solvent stripped off by distillation to leave the desired product of Formula III.

The new compounds of Formula I cannot be made practically by producing monomers of Formula IV:

and then reacting them with acid and an alcohol, such as methanol. The introduction of the radical Rof the alcohol ROH requires reaction on the acid side and the methylolated vinyl ethers of Formula IV hydrolyze under acidconditions at a rate which is practically as fast or faster than the reaction with the alcohol.

The thioureas and ureas of Formula I include many. which are liquids and some which are of solid character at normal room temperatures. The ureas are generally somewhatmore stable than the thioureas under normal temperatures and humidities of storage but the thioureas are adequately stable for many purposes and uses pointed out hereinbelow. The vinyl ethers within the scope of Formula I are sensitive to acid, being rapidly hydrolyzed in the presence of acid. They are also characterized by good polymerizability by the addition system. .In the presence of an acid catalyst, such as boron trifluoride and mercury salts, the vinyl ethers add alcohols and mer captans in the alpha position.

The vinyl ethers ofthe present invention, while normally sufiiciently stableto be stored under normal storage conditions, are readily polymerizable by normal addi of alkoxymethyl groups into the monomeric compounds is distinctly advantageous oyer. procedures of producing polymers of compounds having thestructure of FormulaV:.

addition, the presence of the alkoxymethyl group in t the polymers obtained simply by addition polymerization of the compounds of Formula I of the present invention saves the necessity of subsequently reacting the polymers, such as those obtained by the addition polymerization of the compounds of Formula V with formaldehyde and alcohols, which is extremely undesirable in the case of polymers which are in shaped form such as in the form of coatings, casting, moldings or extruded products.

The monomeric compounds of the present invention are useful as bactericides and fungicides. They may also be used to form linear polymers including homopoiymers and copolymers by simple addition polymerization.

The polymerization of the monomeric vinyl ethers of the present invention is effected in the presence of an acyclic azo compound. In such compound the -N=N- group is attached to aliphatic carbon atoms, at least one of which is tertiary. Typical azo catalysts are azodiisobutyronitrile, azodiisobutyramide, dimethyl (or diethyl or dibutyl) azodiisobutyrate, azobis (ot-dimethylvaleronitrile, azobis (ct-methylbutyronitrile), azosbis (amethylvaleronitrile), dimethyl azobismethylvalerate, and the like. In these catalysts one of the carbons bonded to the tertiary carbon atom has its remaining valences satisfied by at least one element from the class consisting of oxygen and nitrogen.

To effect polymerization the vinyl ethers and the acyclic azo catalyst are mixed directly or in the presence of an inert solvent and the mixture is maintained between 60 and 100 C. until the desired extent of polymerization is attained. For water-soluble monomers water may serve as solvent, if desired. Other solvents include methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, butanol, dimethylformamide, benzene, toluene, ethyl acetate, etc. The amount of catalyst may be varied from about 0.1% to about of the weight of the monomer or monomers. The polymerization is best carried out in an inert atmosphere such as nitrogen gas.

For polymerization in solution concentrations of monomer from about 10% to about are generally desirable. .The course of polymerization may be readily polymers change from Water-soluble to solvent-soluble.

Thus with increase in size of such groups, the polymer becomes soluble in alcohols or benzene.

The polymers of this invention are classed as high polymers since the polymers-are built up of a large number of repeating units. Yet it must be pointed out that the degree of polymerization can readily be controlled by choice of solvent and other conditions of polymerization. Polymers of 10,000 to 200,000 or higher molecular weight may be obtained. 1

In contrast to alkyl vinyl ethers which copolymerize under the influence of organic perozides but poorly and in some cases fail to enter into copolymers, the vinyl 'tive for copolymerizing.

ethers of the invention have been found widely useful in copolymerizations. It has been found that these ethers can be copolymerized with other polymerizable olefinically unsaturated compounds, particlarly vinylidene compounds, under the influence of a polymerization catalyst or initiator of the free radical type, such as peroxides or azo catalysts, an acyclic azo compound being particularly useful and advantageous. With an azo catalyst temperatures between 50 and about C. are generally eitec- Somewhat higher temperatures are useful when catalysts of the peroxidic type are used, temperatures between 75 and C. being practical, the above temperatures being those observed for copolymerization in bulk or in solution. Temperatures between 0 and 100 C. or more are useful when copolymerization is carried out in aqueous suspensions or in emulsions.

The same azo catalysts described above for use in forming polymers are used for preparing copolymers, particularly when the major portion of the monomers is a vinyl ether of the invention. The amount of catalyst may be varied between 0.1% and 5% of the weight of the monomers to be copolymerized. A range from 0.3% to 1% is preferred, at least at the start. Small amounts of catalyst may be added from time to time as copolymerization proceeds.

When a monomeric vinyl ether of the invention furnishes the minor portion of an interpolymer, however, other free radical catalysts may prove as desirable as azo catalysts. For example, the above-mentioned organic peroxides, such as butyl perbenzoate, or benzoyl peroxide, are suitable for polymerization in bulk or in solution, while ammonium per-sulfate and the like are useful in the polymerization of dispersions.

As useful unsaturated compounds for forming the copolymers there may be used esters of acrylic acid or methacrylic acid and monohydric alcohols such as methyl, ethyl, butyl, octyl, dodecyl, cyclohexyl, allyl, methallyl, undecenyl, cyanoethyl, dimethylaminoethyl, and the like; esters of itaconic acid and similar alcohols; esters from maleic, fumaric, or citraconic acids, and likewise similar alcohols; vinyl esters of carboxylic acids such as acetic, propionic, butyric, and the like; vinyloxyalkyl esters such as vinyloxyethyl acetate, etc.; vinyl ethers such as ethyl vinyl ether, butyl vinyl ether, octyl vinyl ether, allyl vinyl ether, hydroxyethyl vinyl ether, aminoethyl vinyl ether, aminopropyl vinyl ether, dimethylaminoethyl vinyl ether, vinyloxyethoxyethanol, vinyloxypropoxyethanol; methacrylonitrile or acrylonitrile; acrylamide, or methacrylamide, and N-substituted amides of these types; vinyl chloride, vinyl bromide, vinylidene chloride, l-chloro-l-fluoroethylene, or ethylene; l-acetoxy-1,3-butadiene; styrene, 2-vinylpyridine, 4-'

vinylpyridine, N-vinylpyrrolidone, formamiodethyl vinyl ether, or divinylbenzene; ethylene diacrylate or dimethacrylate, bis(vinoxyethyl)urea, vinoxyethyl acrylate, vinoxypropyl acrylate, etc. Where two polymerizable vinylidene groups occur in the same molecule, as in compounds toward the end of the above list, cross-linking results where more than one to two percent thereof is used in forming the copolymer.

There are several important types of classes of interpolymers which should be particularly mentioned. Where it is desired to obtain new properties or variations in properties over the properties of the homopolymer of a ureido or th'ioureido compound of the invention, there may be used about 1% to about 60% of one or more other polyme'rizable monoethylenically unsaturated or vinylidene compounds. Often 1% to 20% of the monomers of the present invention is the most usefui range to promote the desired modification of properties of other polymeric types.

Copolymerization, as has been indicated, may be effected in bulk, in solution, or in dispersion. When the monomers to be copolymerized are water-soluble, they' may be copolymerized in aqueous solutions. -Solventsoluble monomers may be handled in inert organic solvents such as benzene, toluene, methanol, ethanol, butanol, acetone, methyl ethyl iietone, dimethylformamide, ethyl acetate, ethylene dichloride, etc. Concentrations from about to 60% are conveniently used. The course of copolymerization may be followed from the changes in viscosity or changes in solubility. Monomers and copolyrner may be separated, if desired, by precipitation, extraction, distillation, or other conventional step.

iolymerization may also be carried out by techniques useful for forming copolymers in dispersion in aqueous systems. Here a mixture of a monomer of the invention and another polymerizable monoethylenically unsaturated compound without or with an inorganic solvent is dispersed or suspended in Water. An emulsifier and/or dispersing agent may be used. The mixture is usually stirred. A polymerization catalyst is added, or catalyst and activator and, if desired, modifiers, such as buffers, metal ions, mercaptans, and the like. Ordinarily dispersions containing 10% to 60% of polymerizable materials are used. Temperatures from below 0 C. to about 100 C. may be used. The preferred temperature range is to 60 C.

The polymers are adapted to be dissolved in asuitable solvent containing an acidic catalyst and to then be applied for various purposes to paper, leather, textiles, wood, metal, glass, plastics and so on as coatings, adhesives, or impregnants which can then be dried and directly converted to insoluble and infusible condition by simply heating. The catalysts used may be ammonium phosphate, ammonium thiocyanate, hydrochlorid or other acid salts of a hydroxy aliphatic amine including Z-methyl-Z-amino-l-propanol, 2 methyl 2- amino-1,3-propandiol, tris(hydroxymethyl)-aminomethane, Z-phenyI-Z-amino-l-propanol, 2-methy1-2-amino-lpentanol, Z-aminohutanol, triethanolamine, 2-amino-2- ethyl-l-butanol, also ammonium chloride, pyridine hydrochloride, benzyldimethylamine oxalate. The amine salts are Water-soluble latent catalysts substantially neutral at ordinary temperature but dissociate into volatile components one of which is acidic at the elevated temperatures used for baking and curing, so that the catalyst after exerting its accelerating effect is automatically discharged during the heating or curing stage.

The heat convertible polymers thus applied and converted to insoluble and infusible condition modify the properties and particularly the surface properties of the coated or impregnated substrate. This modification may simply involve the provision of a protective and/or decorative finish or coating on the treated substrate. In the case of paper, the polymers and copolymers containing from 1 to mole percent of units having the structure of Formula 1 serve to impart wet strength thereto. The polymers applied for this purpose may simply be incorporated in the pulp, at the beater, or as it proceeds to the wire of the paper-making machine. The polymers may be applied to wool and rayon or cotton fabrics for the purpose of reducing water-sensitivity and stabilizing the fabrics thereof against shrinkage on laundering. They may also be applied to cotton and rayon fabrics for crush-proofing and crease-proofing. Water-repellency may be imparted to leather and textile fabrics, especially cottons and rayons when the polymers contain hydrophobic groups, such as long-chain R groups having 8 to 12 carbon atoms or hydrophobic groups in comonomers such as copolymers containing comonomers of higher alcohol esters of acrylic or methacrylic acid, such as lauryl methaclylate.

The homopolymers and copolymers of the present invention may be used to form films, sheets, rods, tubes, and other shaped articles by casting, molding, or extrusion of either fused masses of the polymers or of solu- 0 tions thereof in suitable solvents, especially organic solvents such as dimethylformamide and acetone.

The compositions containing the homopolymers and copolymers of the present invention dissolved or suspended in suitable media, such as Water or organic solvents, may be dyed, pigmented, or provided with extenders, fillers, or the like, and may be combined with other Example 1 A solution of 43.5 grams (0.5 m.) of Z-aminoethyl vinyl ether in 250 ml. of ether is stirred, cooled, and treated slowly with 65.0 grams (0.5 m.) of butoxymethyl isocyanate. The addition is completed in 30 minutes and stirring is continued for an additional 15 minutes during which time crystallization of the product occurs. The product, isolated by filtration is recrystallized from 500 ml. of ether to give an essentially quantitative yield,

grams, of pure material, M. P. 65 -66 C. The product" contains 13.0% N, agreeing with the theoretical value of 13.0% N for N-(Z-vinyloxyethyl)-N-n-butoxymethylurea,

The product is useful as an additive to aminoplast resins. For example, a condensate is prepared in the usual manner from urea, formaldehyde and butanol in a molar ratio of 1/2.2/2.0 as a 50% solution in butanolxylene (1:1) with a Gardner-Holdt viscosity of W-Z. To 100 parts of this solution is added 20 parts of the product of Example 1 and 0.3% of butyl acid phthalate, The material is then formed into a film and baked at 250 F. for 30 minutes. The resultant film shows improved fiexibility and tensile properties over the unmodified butylated methylol urea resin.

Example 2 A solution of 15.3 grams (0.175 m.) of Z-aminoethyl vinyl ether in 20 ml. of benzene is added to a stirred, cooled solution of 11 grams (0.155 m.) of methoxymethyl isocyanate in 30 ml. of benzene at such a rate as to control the exotherm. The product, N-(Z-vinyloxyethyl)-N'-methoxymethylurea, is isolated as a lowmelting solid by stripping at 0.5 mm. Hg. The product is soluble in cold water, ethylene dichloride, and benzene. It is insoluble in ether or petroleum ether. It dissolves in hot ethyl acetate and precipitates on cooling.

The product is useful alone or for the modification of nitrogen resins for the treatment of textile materials. For example, a mixture of a 10% aqueous solution containing 40 parts of dimethylol urea, 10 parts of the product prepared as described in the preceding paragraph and 0.5 part of ethanolamine hydrochloride is used to treat rayon challis by padding so as to give a retention of 2% resin solids. The fabric is dried and cured at 220 F. for 10 minutes and is thereby efiectively rendered creaseproof and shrink-proof with little change in hand.

Example 3 (a) By the procedure of Example 1 there is condensed 51 grams of 2-(N-methylamino)ethyl vinyl ether and 51 grams of ethoxymethyl isocyanate to give a quantitative yield of N-vinyl-oxyethyl-N-methyl-N'-ethoxymethylurea. The product is isolated as an oil that is soluble readily in organic solvents such as alcohol, benzene, and ethyl acetate.

(b) A mixture of 11.5 grams of i-propoxymethyl isocyanate and 14.3 grams of 2-(N-butylamino)isopropyl vinyl ether reacted by the procedure of Example 1 gives as a high boiling, light yellow oil.

A mixture of 51.0 grams of 2-(N-dodecylamino)- ethyl vinyl ether and 26.0 grams of i-butoxyrnethyl isocyanate in chloroform is allowed to condense at 25 40 C. for 6 hours. The product is a low-melting, waxy solid. It is useful as a durable softening agent and water-repellent for textiles. Cotton twill is immersed in a chloroform solution containing 8% of the product and 0.1% of p-toluenesulfonic acid, the application conditions being such that a resin pickup of 4 to 5% is obtained. The fabric is dried and cured at 300 F. for 5 minutes and is thereby rendered resistant to wetting and possesses a full, soft hand. These properties are retained substantially unchanged after washing and dry cleaning.

Example 4 CH =CHOCH CH NHCSNHCH OCH are 14.8% N and 16.9% S.

The product is useful as a bactericidal and fungicidal agent controlling Moizilinia fructlcola and Sten'zphylium sarcinaefo-rme organisms and giving at least a mm. zone of inhibition when tested against Micrococcus pyogenus var. azzreus.

Example 5 The procedure of Example 4 is employed with 14 grams of Z-aminoethyl vinyl ether and 22.0 grams of nbutoxymethyl isothiocyanate. The product, 37 grams, is obtained as a clear, red oil containing 11.5 N and 13.8% S, thus corresponding to CH :CI-I--O--CH CH NHCSNHCH OCJ-I The product is a bactericide having a phenol coefiicient of 2.2 against S. typhosa and a 12 mm. zone of inhibition against Micrococcus pyogenus var. am'ezls.

Example 6 A mixture of 21.0 grams (0.1 m.) of N-methyl-N-vinyloxyethyl melamine and 20.6 grams of methoxymethyl isothiocyanate in 200 ml. of dry acetone is heated at to C. for 16 hours. A yellow solid precipitates during the reaction. The mixture is cooled and the solid is collected and dried to give 30 grams of product, N- methyl N vinyloxyethyl N methoxymethyl thiocarbamidomelamine, having the structure of ll N N n o containing 32.3% N and 11.6% S. The product is soluble in dimethylformamide and insoluble in water.

Example 7 A solution of 43 grams of Z-aminoethyl vinyl ether is added to 69 grams of l,6-(bis-isothiocyanomethoxy)-2,5-

. 3 dimethylhexane in acetone at 0 to 5 C. The mixture is allowed to stand at 25 to 30 C. for 16 hours and then the product is isolated by stripping. Purification is effected by recrystallization from alcohol to yield 18 grams of the product, 2,5-dimethyl-1,6-bis-(vinyloxyethylthioureidomethoxy)hexane having the structure It is a tan solid, M. P. 94 to 95 C., containing 11.8% N and 13.9% S.

The product is useful as a fungicide controlling both Monilinia fructicola and Stemphylium sarcinaeforme.

Example 8 A condensation is effected between 31 grams of N- cyclohexylaminoethyl vinyl ether and 20.2 grams of ethoxymethyl isothiocyanate in dry acetone to give a quantitative yield of product, N-cyclohexyl-N-vinyloxyethyhN'-ethoxymethylthiourea (where C H is a cyclohexyl radical). The product is useful as a fungicide.

Example 9 A solution of 25.5 grams of lauroxymethylisocyanate in benzene is added to 11.5 grams of 3-aminopropyl vinyl ether to give N-vinyloxypropyl-N-lauroxymethy1 urea as a waxy solid. This product is useful as a lubricant for the spinning of textile fibers such as cotton or rayon and synthetic fibers such as polyarnides or polyesters like nylon or Dacron (poly(ethylene glycol terephthalate)).

Example 10 A solution of 25 grams of N-(2-vinyloxyethyl)-N- methoxy-methylurea, the product of Example 2, 25 grams of water adjusted to pH 7.0 and 0.5 gram of dimethyl azoisobutyrate is heated in a flask with stirring at C. for 16 hours in a nitrogen atmosphere. The viscosity increases with time to give a solution of poly(vinyloxyethylmethoxymethylurea) This material is useful as a tire-cord adhesive for improving the strength of the bond between rayon cord and tire-carcass rubber. Tire cord is sized with a rubber latex containing 10% by weight of rubber of the polymer of this example and the cords are dried and cured at 220 F. for 30 minutes. The cords are then incorporated into a styrene-butadiene rubber of the GR-S type and an H-type specimen is prepared. Tensile tests of the specimen to failure indicate a two-fold increase in adhesion of treated cord to rubber as compared to cord sized with unmodified latex.

The polymer is useful also as a beater additive for improving the wet-strength of paper and as an additive to fiber and film dopes of cellulose acetate and other regenerative solution polymers for imparting decreased water pickup and improved tensile properties.

Example 11 A mixture of 50 grams of N-vinyloxyethyl-N'-butoxymethylurea, the product of Example 1, 50 grams of dimethylformamide, and 1.0 gram of dimethyl azodiisobutyrate is heated at 75 C. for 8 hours to give a conversion to polymer. Polymer is isolated by precipitation with water and dried.

A solution of the polymer in butanol containing 0.25% of butyl acid phthalate is cast as a film on glass and on metal plates, air-dried and then baked at 300 F. for 30 minutes. The resultant coatings are hard, show good adhesion and are solvent-resistant. The polymer is also useful as an additive to modify other coating resins such as those derived from urea or melamine.

Example 12 By the procedure of Example 11, a homopolymer of the product of Example 4 is prepared. The 50% poly- Example 13 A solution of 90 grams of methyl methacrylate, 21.6 grams of the product of Example 1, 150 grams of ethoxyethyl acetate, and 0.5 gram of azoisobutyronitrile is added in a 2-hour period with stirring to a vessel maintained at 80 to 85 C. The resultant solution is treated with two 0.25 gram increments of the azonitrile at 2 hour intervals. The final colorless solution has a Gardner-Holdt viscosity of W at 39.6% solids.

Films applied to metal and baked at 300 F. for 30 minutes are clear, colorless and hard. These films are still soluble in ethoxyethyl acetate. Repeating the process with solution containing 0.5% of p-toluenesulfonic acid gives clear, hard films insoluble in all common organic solvents.

Example 14 A mixture of 522 grams of methyl methacrylate, 428 grams of ethyl acrylate, 95 grams of N-methoxymethyl- N'-vinyloxyethylthiourea, 1280 grams of zylene and 10.5 grams of azoisobutyronitrile is added with stirring to a preheated pot maintained at 80 to 85 C. The mixture is treated twice at two hour intervals with 1.0 gram of.

Example 15 A mixture of acrylonitrile (70 parts), ethyl acrylate (25 parts) and the compound of Example (5 parts) is emulsified with 180 parts of water and 5 parts of soap, all parts being by weight. To the emulsion is added 1 part of potassium chloride, 0.2 part of tetraethylenepentamine and 0.3 part of diisopropylbenzene hydroperoxide. The exothermic reaction is allowed to proceed to 60 C. with occasional moderation. A high conversion to stable polymer emulsion is obtained. The polymer is useful in the preparation of fibers and films which can be thermoset. Thus a polymer initially more readily processed than a homopolymer of acrylonitrile is obtained which can be subsequently converted to material equal or better than polyacrylonitrile in tensile, retraction and resistance properties. The particular copolymer herein prepared also exhibits better dyeing properties than polyacrylonitrile.

Example 16 An emulsion polymer of 90 parts of butyl acrylate and parts of the product of Example 1 (N-butoxymetliyl-N-vinyloxyethylurea) is prepared at 40% solids as described in Example 15. The resultant polymer is useful in the treatment of wool. Thus woolen fabric is padded through the emulsion so as to give 5% to 7% polymer retention. The fabric is then dried and cured briefly at 250 F. for five minutes. The treated fabric shows 5% to 10% total shrinkage after 300 minutes of laundering as compared to 45% to 50% shrinkage for untreated fabric. The fabric retains its initial soft hand and drapability.

It is to be understood that changes and variations may be made Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. As a composition of matter, a compound having the formula:

in which A is an alkylene group having 2 to 4 carbon atoms of which a chain of 'at least two extend between the adjoined atoms of O and N, R is selected from the group consisting of H, cyclohexyl, and alkyl groups having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, and R is a lower alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms.

2. As a composition of matter, a compound having the formula:

H C=CHOANHCSNHCH OR where A is an alkylene group having 2 to 4 carbon atoms of which a chain of at least two extend between the adjoined atoms of O and N, and R is a lower alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms.

3. As a composition of matter, N-methoxymethyl-N'- (2-vinyloxyethyl)-thiourea.

4. As a composition of matter, N-(n-butoxymethyl)-N'- (2-vinyloxyethyl -thiourea.

5. A method for producing a compound of the formula H C==CHOANR'CXNHCH OR comprising reacting a compound having the formula:

II H C=CHOANHR' with a compound having the formula:

III ROCH NCX where R is a lower alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, A is an alkylene group having 2 to 4 carbon atoms of which a chain of at least two extend between the adjoined atoms of O and N, R is selected from the group consisting of H, cyclohexyl, and alkyl groups having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, and X is selected from the group consisting of O and S.

6. A method as defined in claim 5 in which the reaction is effected at a temperature of about 0 to 50 C.

7. A method which comprises the step of polymerizing by means of a free radical catalyst a compound having the formula in which A is an alkylene group having 2 to 4 carbon atoms of which a chain of at least two extend between the adjoined atoms of O and N, R is selected from the group consisting of H, cyclohexyl, and alkyl groups having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, X is selected from the group consisting of O and S, and R is a lower alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms.

8. A method as defined in claim 7 in which the catalyst is an azo catalyst.

9. A method as defined in claim 7 in which polymerization with other comonomers is efiected in the presence of a free radical catalyst selected from the group consisting of azo catalysts, organic peroxide catalysts including peroxides and perbenzoates, and inorganic persulfates.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,689,844 Melamed Sept. 21, 1954 

1. AS A COMPOSITION OF MATTER, A COMPOUND HAVING THE FORMULA: 